Clinical Trial Details
— Status: Completed
Administrative data
NCT number |
NCT04088877 |
Other study ID # |
HREBA.CC 19-0363 |
Secondary ID |
|
Status |
Completed |
Phase |
N/A
|
First received |
|
Last updated |
|
Start date |
January 1, 2020 |
Est. completion date |
August 31, 2020 |
Study information
Verified date |
November 2020 |
Source |
University of Alberta |
Contact |
n/a |
Is FDA regulated |
No |
Health authority |
|
Study type |
Interventional
|
Clinical Trial Summary
The objectives of this pilot study are to determine the feasibility of a community-based
moderate intensity resistance exercise training (RET) program in combination with an art
sculpting class on body image in breast cancer survivors (BCS). The protocol will be
measuring recruitment; attendance; cost tracking; body image distress; body image
appreciation; and muscular strength. Participant feedback on the intervention will be
collected through a final focus group. Additionally, cognitive interviews will occur prior to
the intervention, where participants will be asked to "think-out-loud" as they answer the
Body Image Scale for Cancer questionnaire. The purpose of this interview technique is to gain
a deeper understanding of the participants' thought process behind choosing each answer. The
proposed pilot study will be a single prospective before and after study that will help
inform a future large-scale project. A minimum sample of 12 subjects will be recruited.
The Health Research Ethics Board of Alberta Cancer Committee will approve this study.
Participants will participate in RET biweekly for 12 weeks and the sculpting class weekly for
8 weeks. After the first week of RET, the art class will begin. Both the RET and sculpting
class will be between 1-2 hours in length.
Analyses: Quality of life, fitness testing and body image scales will be administered before
and after the intervention. Cognitive interviews will occur once before the intervention has
started and a final focus group will occur at the end of the intervention to get participant
feedback on the effectiveness of the program
Description:
Breast cancer is the third most frequently diagnosed cancer in Canada. Treatment of breast
cancer typically involves an initial surgery, followed by radiation, chemotherapy and
hormonal treatments. These treatments are invasive and may result in a visible change in a
survivor's physical appearance, which can lead to body image concerns, depression, and
psychological distress. Currently, many of the studies that address body image in breast
cancer use a biomedical model, often ignoring the need for incorporating behavioural and
psychosocial aspects of the construct.
Resistance exercise training (RET) holds promise as an intervention to help improve body
image among women in the general population. Art classes have been found to have a positive
impact on cancer survivors' psychological and spiritual well-being, quality of life, and
coping. To date, however, the evidence is limited regarding interdisciplinary approaches to
addressing body image in breast cancer. This study will examine the feasibility and
preliminary efficacy of combining a resistance exercise training program with a group art
sculpting class to address body image in breast cancer.
The main objectives of this project are: 1) To determine the feasibility and preliminary
efficacy of a RET program and art sculpting class on body image in breast cancer survivors.
2) Determine if the Body Image Scale for Cancer (BIS) survey reflects the experiences breast
cancer survivors have with their body image.
3) Evaluate the patient experience through a final focus group This study will be a
prospective before and after pilot study with baseline measures that include: collection of
participant demographics, quality of life, baseline fitness tests, body image scales, and
cognitive interviews. After the intervention, the following measures will be collected:
quality of life, fitness tests, body image scales, recruitment/adherence data, and
intervention feedback through a final focus group.
A minimum sample of 12 subjects who previously attended the Alberta Cancer Exercise program
(ACE) in Edmonton will be recruited for this project. Subjects will be screened for
eligibility and if they meet all eligibility criteria, an information letter of the study
will be provided and they will be asked to contact the investigators if interested in taking
part in the study. All participant will be required to provide signed informed consent as per
the Health Research Ethics Board (HREB) of Alberta: Cancer Committee.
Participants will participate in a 12-week resistance exercise program, twice a week and an
Art Sculpting class for 8-weeks. From week 2 to 10 of the intervention, the group art
sculpting class take place once a week. Both the exercise and art classes will take place at
Wellspring Edmonton, a non-profit community center that provides supportive Wellness
programming for cancer survivors.
RET: The participants will attend the exercise facility at Wellspring two times a week.
Sessions are completed under the supervision of an exercise physiologist and the duration of
each session ranges from 1.0 - 1.5 hours. Each session includes a warm up on an aerobic
exercise machine, a full body progressive RET program followed by balance and stretching
exercises.
Art Sculpting Class: The sculpting program will take place once a week for 2 hours over an
8-week period. Sessions will be facilitated by an artist and registered psychologist who will
lead the group in art techniques and self-reflection, respectively. Each group session will
focus on a positive health theme related to body image, and the participants will have the
opportunity to reflect through their art and social interactions with one another.
Statistical Analysis: Demographic and medical information will be presented using median and
range and percentage for interval and nominal data respectively. The primary analysis will
compare outcomes before and after the intervention with regard to body image perception from
the survey tools and the fitness testing results. This will meet the preliminary efficacy
objectives of the study; to determine whether the intervention demonstrates a trend towards
improved body image. Analyses of outcomes will be performed at the end of the intervention
using non-parametric tests (Wilcoxon signed rank). Point estimates and measures of
variability to inform future research will be calculated from parametric statistics using a
paired t-test.
Qualitative Analysis: Qualitative data will be collected at two separate time points - once,
through the cognitive interviewing of the BIS scale and the second through the focus group at
the end of the intervention. An abductive analytical approach using a semantic analysis from
Braun and Clarke (2006) will be used to understand the various participant perspectives and
contextualize the participants' experiences. The methodology used for the cognitive
interviewing will be interpretive description.